Page:The Count of Monte-Cristo (1887 Volume 2).djvu/218

200 The young men then rose and quitted the room.

"What is the matter?" asked Albert of Franz, when they had returned to their own apartments; "you seem thoughtful."

"Yes, I grant it," replied Franz; "the count is a singular man, and this appointment you have made to meet him in Paris fills me with apprehension."

"This appointment apprehension! Why, you are crazy, my dear Franz!" exclaimed Albert.

"Crazy or not," answered Franz, "it is so."

"Listen to me, Franz," said Albert: "I am not sorry that our present conversation gives me an opportunity of saying this. I find you always very cool to the count, while him on his side I have always found, perfectly friendly to us. Have you any private reasons for so acting?"

"Possibly."

"Did you ever meet him previously to coming hither?"

"I have."

"And where?"

"Will you promise me not to repeat a single word of what I am about to tell you?"

"I do."

"On your honor?"

"On my honor."

"Then listen to me."

Franz then related to his friend his excursion to the isle of Monte-Cristo, and of his finding a party of smugglers there, with whom were two Corsican bandits. He dwelt with considerable force on the almost fairy-like hospitality he had received from the count, in the grotto of the Thousand and one Nights.

He recounted the hashish, the statues, the dream and reality, and how, at his awakening, there remained no proof or trace of all these events, save the small yacht, sailing away toward Porto-Vecchio.

Then he passed to Rome, the night in the Colosseum, the conversation between him and Vampa, in which the count had promised to obtain the release of the bandit Peppino,—an engagement which, as our readers are aware, he most faithfully fulfilled.

At last he arrived at the adventure of the preceding night, and the embarrassment in which he found himself placed by not having sufficient cash to complete the sum of six hundred or seven hundred piastres. with the circumstance of his having applied to the count—an impulse which had led to results so picturesque and satisfactory. Albert listened with the most profound attention.

"Well," said he, when Franz had concluded, "what do you find to object to, in all you have related? The count is fond of traveling, and